Leicester fly-half Toby Flood has revealed his envy at not being part of England's dazzling defeat of New Zealand earlier this month.

The 27-year-old missed out on the 38-21 victory over the All Blacks with a toe injury and was forced to watch Owen Farrell and Freddie Burns share the playmaking duties on one of English rugby's greatest days. Flood staked an early claim for an England return for the Six Nations with 11 points on his return to action as the Tigers beat London Irish 31-9 in their Premiership clash on Saturday but he is refusing to look too far ahead.

"It was a hugely envious position for me because those guys went out there and beat the All Blacks, which is something I've never done," Flood told the Daily Telegraph. "But I'm not fussed about the international side of things right now. We've got a really tough Christmas to consider and for me it's just a case of bedding back down into the side."

Leicester round out their festive campaign with the visit of Gloucester this weekend and a trip to Worcester the following week before resuming their Heineken Cup campaign with crucial clashes with Ospreys and then Toulouse that will define their European season. "My big aim at the moment is hopefully to get a bit form and feel confident going into our final two Heineken Cup group games against Ospreys and Toulouse," added Flood.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has also confirmed that England flanker Tom Croft was fit to return for the clash with Gloucester at Welford Road.